Counsellor

**Permanent Part Time 22.5 hours (3 days) per week located at our Hurstville Hub**:

- **TRP$86k - $92k pro rata + Salary Packaging**:

- **Flexible Friendly organisation, WFH options available**

The Benevolent Society supports Australians by offering integrated support services for children, young people, families, people with disability, older Australians and carers.

We work across Australia, nationally through virtual service delivery and in person in NSW, VIC, ACT, SA and QLD and we work with thousands of people every day, to help them feel valued, cared for and understood.

**About this role**

For over 30 years our Post Adoption Resource Centre (PARC) has supported people across NSW whose lives have been affected by adoption.

As a Post Adoption Counsellor, you will improve the well being of people affected by adoption by providing therapeutic services such as counselling, therapeutic group work, intermediary, information and research services. We use a trauma-informed, family systems and strengths based approach to support individuals and families navigate their post adoption journey.

**Duties**
- Provide face to face, video and telephone counselling services to people presenting with grief, trauma, identity, relationship, parenting, drug and alcohol, domestic violence and mental health issues relating to experiences of adoption.
- Engage clients using appropriate strengths based assessments and risk minimisation processes.
- Work with clients to research, create, monitor and evaluate their client plan and outcomes, that identify strengths as well as areas of risk, ensuring clients are actively engaged in the process.
- Work with clients affected by adoption to prepare for connection with family and the associated issues that can occur
- Facilitate connection meetings and provide debriefing support to clients

**Our Benefits**

We support people to live their best life. That includes you, our employee. A best life is deeply personal. It can change as life changes. Here are a few things you might be interested in:

- **Salary Benefits -** In addition to your salary you can package up to $15,900 pa pre tax and benefit from a $2,650 meals and entertainment card + discount program and package vehicles
- **Work/Life Balance - **Flexible work arrangements including part time hours + laptop & phone provided to work remotely + 1 accrued day off a month for full time employees
- **Recognition and Reward - **Length of Service rewards + long service leave after 5 years
- **Wellness**:

- Fitness passport + Employee Assistance Program + opportunity to purchase additional leave
- **Professional development - **Ongoing learning, training and career progression opportunities

**Skills and Experience**

You will have a relevant tertiary (degree) qualification e.g., social work, counselling, psychology and:

- An understanding of the key issues surrounding adoption such as trauma and its impact, identity and reunion issues.
- Experience delivering trauma informed evidence-based programs and therapeutic services, individually and in groups.
- Demonstrated practice skills working therapeutically with adults and adolescents, preferably in a post adoption service.
- Experience working therapeutically with families is desirable.
- High level written and verbal communication skills, with knowledge of search, outreach and intermediary practices.
- Great people skills and capacity to engage with people from all walks of life.
- Some flexibility to travel and do evening work.
- Current driver's license.

Contact Sarah Burn on 0481 463 605 or Alana Laundy 0449 902 541 to discuss the role in more detail.